More than 130 kilometres of coastline and 6,200 hectares of natural areas set two different benchmarks for Loire-Atlantique. There are also landscapes to discover on foot, along cycling routes, beside waterways or through cultural heritage. When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip: would you like nature itself to take centre stage, are you interested in a particular route, or would you like to include cultural sites? The regional examples offer different perspectives without prescribing a set itinerary.

Nature at Lac de Grand-Lieu

In winter, Lac de Grand-Lieu is France’s largest natural lowland lake. A visit to the Maison du Lac de Grand-Lieu ends on the pavilion terrace, with views across the lake and of the birds in the protected area. The discovery visit also includes an exhibition about the lake and wetlands. This lets you experience the landscape, wildlife and information about the habitat in different ways: through the views and the exhibition.

There are clear rules for visiting the lake: swimming and water sports are prohibited on Lac de Grand-Lieu; fishing is reserved for seven professional fishers. When planning your time there, you can therefore focus on observing nature and discovering the wetlands, rather than planning activities on the water.

If you would like to explore the area on foot, the GR® de Pays Tour du lac de Grand-Lieu is a 73-kilometre circular hiking route. Route details may be updated, so check the current route before setting out. Its length gives you a clear idea of the scale of the hike, while the Maison du Lac terrace is a distinct, well-defined place to visit.

Routes and waterways offer different perspectives

Loire-Atlantique has 2,000 kilometres of cycling routes. Within the département, the Vélidéale crosses sensitive areas, nature reserves, rivers and marshes. This describes a particular landscape along the route, not every cycling route in general. If you want to plan a trip around the scenery, this distinction is useful: the information about the Vélidéale identifies the natural and waterside landscapes along this route, while the overall figure gives a broader picture of cycling itineraries in the département.

La Régalante offers a different kind of route: it connects Châteaubriant and Nantes, has little elevation gain and is considered accessible, with few difficulties. Compared with the 73-kilometre hiking loop at Lac de Grand-Lieu, different features stand out here: the connection between two named places and the route’s stated gentle gradient. This may help you decide whether you are more interested in a hiking trail with a specified length or a route with these particular characteristics.

The waterways offer another perspective. The département’s navigable waterways include the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the Erdre and the Sèvre nantaise. These names add further navigable waterways to the picture of coast, lake and wetlands; they are a separate topic for trip planning alongside cycling and walking routes.

Heritage and Brière homes

Kerhinet is a hamlet of 18 thatched cottages, created as a showcase for traditional Brière homes. The site is designed for pedestrians, has two interpretation trails and serves as a starting point for hikes. Kerhinet thus combines architectural heritage with local trails: you can enjoy the houses as a cultural experience in their own right or consider the trails and hiking starting point in light of your interests.

Other names also add a cultural dimension: the musée Dobrée is part of the Grand Patrimoine network. Château de Clisson is classified as a historic monument. Together, these examples show that heritage in Loire-Atlantique takes more than one form: traditional homes are at the heart of Kerhinet, while the musée Dobrée and Château de Clisson each represent distinct cultural sites.

Muscadet as a regional wine connection

Alongside nature and heritage, wine is another of the region’s many points of interest. Muscadet comprises ten communal crus. If you would like to include wine in your trip planning as well as landscapes and architectural heritage, this classification by cru offers a specific point of reference. It adds another interest to the routes and natural areas, without requiring you to follow a set programme during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Asserac, Batz-Sur-Mer, Châteaubriant, Chauve, Corsept, Fresnay-En-Retz, Guémené-Penfao, Guérande, La Madelaine, La Plaine-Sur-Mer, La Turballe, Le Croisic, Le Pouliguen, Les Moutiers-En-Retz, Nantes, Piriac-Sur-Mer, Pornic, Pornichet, Préfailles, Quimiac, Saint-André-Des-Eaux, Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins, Saint-Lyphard, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, Sainte-Pazanne, Sainte-Reine-De-Bretagne, Vue, La Chapelle Sur Erdre, La Baule-Escoublac, Guenrouet, Le Bignon, Saint-Joachim, Vigneux-De-Bretagne, Trignac, Saint-Sébastien-Sur-Loire, Saint-Herblain, Sainte-Luce-Sur-Loire, Rezé, Orvault, Missillac, La Cotinière, Héric, Carquefou, Bouguenais, Bouaye, Ancenis, Saint-Vincent-Des-Landes, Gorges, Saint-Nazaire, Saint-Colomban, Treillières, Port-Saint-Père, Mesquer, La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur, Legé, Blain, Saint-Nicolas-De-Redon, Riaillé, La Chapelle-Basse-Mer, Derval, Les Sorinières, Arthon-En-Retz, Cordemais, Donges, Herbignac, Malville, Anetz, Varades, Abbaretz, Conquereuil, Mouzillon, Notre-Dame-Des-Landes, Nozay, Vallet, La Chevrolière, Frossay, La Chapelle-Des-Marais, Pont-Saint-Martin, Rouans, Saint-Mars-De-Coutais, Saint-Molf, Vertou, Touvois, La Rouxière, Mésanger, Sucé-Sur-Erdre, Fercé, Le Gâvre, Saffré, Vay, Thouaré-Sur-Loire, Couffé, Petit-Auverné, Bourgneuf-En-Retz, Brains, Campbon, Cheix-En-Retz, Couëron, Crossac, La Bernerie-En-Retz, La Chapelle-Launay, Machecoul, Paulx, Saint-Aignan-Grandlieu, Saint-Étienne-De-Mer-Morte, Saint-Hilaire-De-Chaléons, Saint-Père-En-Retz, Saint-Philbert-De-Grand-Lieu, Sainte-Anne-Sur-Brivet, Casson, Grandchamps-Des-Fontaines, Le Loroux-Bottereau, Les Touches, Ligné, Pannecé, La Limouzinière, Le Pallet, Saint-Julien-De-Concelles, Saint-Léger-Les-Vignes, Teillé, Bonnoeuvre, Château-Thébaud, Corcoué-Sur-Logne, Geneston, Grand-Auverné, Issé, Joué-Sur-Erdre, La Chevallerais, La Meilleraye-De-Bretagne, Le Landreau, Marsac-Sur-Don, Moisdon-La-Rivière, Nort-Sur-Erdre, Plessé, Saint-Fiacre-Sur-Maine, Saint-Gildas-Des-Bois, Sion-Les-Mines, Vieillevigne, Mouzeil, Clisson, La Chapelle-Glain, Rougé, Saint-Herblon, Remouillé, Saint-Mars-Du-Désert, Erbray, Maisdon-Sur-Sèvre, Savenay, Pontchâteau, Sautron, Fégréac, Barbechat, Quilly, Saint-Mars-La-Jaille, Paimbœuf, Haute-Goulaine, Soudan, Boussay, Treffieux, Saint-Lumine-De-Clisson, La Haie-Fouassière, Saint-Viaud, Gétigné, Aigrefeuille-Sur-Maine, Basse-Goulaine, Massérac, Soulvache, Saint-Aubin-Des-Châteaux, Belligné, Chéméré, Prinquiau, Avessac, Le Cellier, Monnières, Montbert, Montoir-de-Bretagne, La Grigonnais, Petit-Mars, Oudon, Mouais, Bouvron, Ruffigné, Fay-de-Bretagne, Besné, Louisfert, Indre.

For the wider travel overview: Pays De La Loire.